Modular building structures

Claim 2

A structural assembly comprising: two structural members joined together in end-to-end relationship by at least one clamp, each member having a side face, an end face and a third face, said end face extending between said side face and said third face, said third face being opposite said side face, a longitudinal groove in said third face adjacent said end face, a wall of said groove nearest the end face defining a gripping ramp for said clamp, an entrance ramp in each member adjoining the end face and the third face, said members having in allochiral relationship, said clamp having a web having two back-to-back faces, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing first side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in one direction, said pair of first legs and said web defining first channels in cross section, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing second side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in an opposite direction to said one direction, each pair of second side legs and said web defining second channels in cross section, said first and second legs extending from one of said opposite edges each having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward said web, and one face of said web being in contact with said end face of one of said members and the other face of said web being in contact with said end face of the other of said members, said first and second legs extending from said one opposite edge of said web extending along said third face, said edges of said lips being in gripping contact with said respective gripping ramps, said first and second legs extending from the other of said opposite edges of said web being in gripping contact with said respective side faces.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 in which: said first and second legs extending from the other of said opposite edges of said web have adjacent their outer ends a laterally outwardly bend forming a ramp for entry onto said last respective side faces.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 in which: an entry ramp adjoins each of said respective side faces and said end faces.

Claim 5

A structural assembly comprising: two structural members joined together in end-to-end relationship by at least one clamp, each member having first and second side faces and an end face extending therebetween, each of said end faces having a longitudinally extending groove therein, an entrance ramp in each member adjoining the end face and one wall of the groove, said first side faces and said one groove walls being respectively aligned, a gripping ramp formed at the inner end of each of the grooves, said gripping ramp extending from said one groove wall in a direction away from the remainder of the groove, said clamp having a web having two back-to-back faces, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing first side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in one direction, each pair of first legs and said web defining first channels in cross section, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing second side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in an opposite direction to said one direction, each pair of second legs and said web defining second channels in cross section, said first and second legs extending from one of said opposite edges each having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward said web, and one face of said web being in contact with said end face between said first side face and said entrance ramp at said one groove wall of one of said members and the other face of said web being in contact with said end face between said first side face and said entrance ramp at said groove wall of the other of said members, said first and second legs extending from said one opposite edge of said web extending along said one wall of said respective grooves, said edges of said lips being in gripping contact with said respective gripping ramps, said first and second legs extending from the other of said opposite edges of said web being in gripping contact with said respective first side faces of said members.

Claim 6

A structural assembly comprising: two structural members joined together in end-to-end relationship by at least one clamp, each member having first and second side faces and an end face extending therebetween, each of said end faces having a longitudinally extending groove therein, an entrance ramp in each member adjoining the end face and one wall of the groove, said first side faces and said one groove walls being respectively aligned, a gripping ramp formed at the inner end of each of the grooves, said gripping ramp extending from said one groove wall in a direction away from the remainder of the groove, said clamp having a web having two back-to-back faces, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing first side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in one direction, each pair of first legs and said web defining first channels in cross section, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing second side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in an opposite direction to said one direction, each pair of second legs and said web defining second channels in cross section, said first and second legs extending from one of said opposite edges each having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward said web, and one face of said web being in contact with said end face between said first side face and said entrance ramp at said one groove wall of one of said members and the other face of said web being in contact with said end face between said first side face and said entrance ramp at said groove wall of the other of said members, said first and second legs extending from said one opposite edge of said web extending along said one wall of said respective grooves, said edges of said lips being in gripping contact with said respective gripping ramps, said first and second legs extending from the other of said opposite edges of said web being in gripping contact with said respective first side faces of said members.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 4 in which: said first and second legs extending from the other of said opposite edges of said web have adjacent their outer ends a laterally outwardly bend forming a ramp for entry onto said respective first side faces.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 4 in which: an entry ramp adjoins each of said respective first side faces and said end faces.

Claim 9

A structural assembly comprising: four structural members joined together by at least one clamp, first and second pairs of said members being joined in end-to-end relationship, each member having first and second side faces and an end face extending therebetween, a first member of said first pair and a first member of said second pair having first side faces in abutment, and a second member of said first pair and a second member of said second pair having first side faces in abutment, each of said end faces having a longitudinally extending groove therein, an entrance ramp in each member adjoining the end face and one wall of the groove, a gripping ramp formed adjacent the inner end of each groove, each gripping ramp extending from said one groove wall in a direction away from the remainder of the groove, said grooves in each pair of members opening toward each other having respective said one walls in alignment, said clamp having a web having two back-to-back faces, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing first side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in one direction, each pair of first legs and said web defining first channels in cross section, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing second side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in an opposite direction to said one direction, each pair of second legs and said web defining second channels in cross section, each leg having a returning lip adacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward said web, and one face of said web being in abutment with end faces between respective said entrance ramps of said first members of said first and second pairs of members, the other face of said web being in abutment with end faces between respective said entrance ramps of said second members of said first and second pairs of members, said pairs of said first side legs extending along respective said one walls of said grooves in said first members of said first and second pairs of members, said pairs of said second side legs extending along respective said one walls of said grooves in said second members of said first and second pairs of members each of said edges of said lips being in gripping contact with said respective gripping ramps of said members.

Claim 10

A structural assembly comprising: four structural members joined together by at least one clamp, first and second pairs of said members being joined in end-to-end relationship, each member having first and second side faces and an end face extending therebetween, a first member of said first pair and a first member of said second pair having first side faces in abutment, and a second member of said first pair and a second member of said second pair having first side faces in abutment, each of said end faces having a longitudinally extending groove therein, an entrance ramp in each member adjoining the end face and one wall of the groove, a gripping ramp formed adjacent the inner end of each groove, each gripping ramp extending from said one groove wall in a direction away from the remainder of the groove, said grooves in each pair of members opening toward each other having respective said one walls in alignment, said clamp having a web having two back-to-back faces, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing first side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in one direction, each pair of first legs and said web defining first channels in cross section, a plurality of pairs of resilient opposing second side legs extending from opposite edges of said web in an opposite direction to said one direction, each pair of second legs and said web defining second channels in cross section, each leg having a returning lip adacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward said web, and one face of said web being in abutment with end faces between respective said entrance ramps of said first members of said first and second pairs of members, the other face of said web being in abutment with end faces between respective said entrance ramps of said second members of said first and second pairs of members, said pairs of said first side legs extending along respective said one walls of said grooves in said first members of said first and second pairs of members, said pairs of said second side legs extending along respective said one walls of said grooves in said second members of said first and second pairs of members each of said edges of said lips being in gripping contact with said respective gripping ramps of said members.

Claim 11

A structural assembly comprising: a structural member having a side face, an end face and a third face, said end face extending between said side face and said third face, said third face being opposite said side face, a longitudinal groove in said third face adjacent said end face, a wall of said groove nearest the end face defining a gripping ramp for a clamp, an entrance ramp for a clamp adjoining said third face and said end face, a clamp engaged with said side, end and third faces and said groove, said clamp having a web, at least one pair of resilient opposing side legs extending from opposite edges of said web, each pair of side legs and said web defining channels in cross section, each side leg extending from one of said opposite edges having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward said web, one face of said web being in contact with said end face of said member, each side leg extending from said one opposite edge of said web extending along said third face, each lip edge being in gripping contact with said gripping ramp, said side legs extending from the other of said opposite edges being in gripping contact with said side face, a plurality of resilient hook forming legs extending outwardly in the plane of said web from said other opposite edge thereof, said hook forming legs having a return bend at an acute angle thereto in the direction of the outer ends of the side legs and forming a hook for attachment to a support member, and a support member engaged with the ends of said hook forming legs, said support member having an upwardly extending member having at its lower end a downwardly opening generally V-shaped member, the lower ends of the V legs extending inwardly and slightly downwardly and being spaced from each other enough to permit said hooks to be snapped therebetween into the V opening, the V leg ends having an inner slightly downwardly extending surface to receive and support the ends of the hooks.

Claim 12

A structural assembly comprising: a structural member having a side face, an end face and a third face, said end face extending between said side face and said third face, said third face being opposite said side face, a longitudinal groove in said third face adjacent said end face, a wall of said groove nearest the end face defining a gripping ramp for a clamp, an entrance ramp for a clamp adjoining said third face and said end face, a clamp engaged with said side, end and third faces and said groove, said clamp having a web, at least one pair of resilient opposing side legs extending from opposite edges of said web, each pair of side legs and said web defining channels in cross section, each side leg extending from one of said opposite edges having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward said web, one face of said web being in contact with said end face of said member, each side leg extending from said one opposite edge of said web extending along said third face, each lip edge being in gripping contact with said gripping ramp, said side legs extending from the other of said opposite edges being in gripping contact with said side face, a plurality of resilient hook forming legs extending outwardly in the plane of said web from said other opposite edge thereof, said hook forming legs having a return bend at an acute angle thereto in the direction of the outer ends of the side legs and forming a hook for attachment to a support member, and a support member engaged with the ends of said hook forming legs, said support member having an upwardly extending member having at its lower end a downwardly opening generally V-shaped member, the lower ends of the V legs extending inwardly and slightly downwardly and being spaced from each other enough to permit said hooks to be snapped therebetween into the V opening, the V leg ends having an inner slightly downwardly extending surface to receive and support the ends of the hooks.

Claim 13

A structural assembly comprising: a double wall structure having four members joined together in two pairs in end-to-end relationship, said four members being joined by at least one clamp, each member having two side faces and an end face extending therebetween, a longitudinal groove in one side face of each member, a wall of each groove nearest the end face defining a gripping ramp for said clamp, an entrance ramp in each member adjoining the end face and the side face having the groove, said members being in allochiral relationship, said clamp having a web having two back-to-back faces, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a first lateral end thereof defining first pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a second lateral end thereof opposite said first end defining second pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, said first pairs of clamp channels being in clamping engagement with one of said two pairs of members, said second pairs of clamp channels being in clamping engagement with the other of said two pairs of members, said web faces within said channels being in contact with end faces on said respective pairs of members, legs extending in opposite directions from one edge adjacent said first web end and legs extending in opposite directions from a corresponding edge adjacent said second web end, each having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward and in gripping contact with one of the respective gripping ramps, said legs having said lip extending along respective side faces having a groove, the others of said legs being in gripping contact with other respective side faces.

Claim 14

A structural assembly comprising: a double wall structure having four members joined together in two pairs in end-to-end relationship, said four members being joined by at least one clamp, each member having two side faces and an end face extending therebetween, a longitudinal groove in one side face of each member, a wall of each groove nearest the end face defining a gripping ramp for said clamp, an entrance ramp in each member adjoining the end face and the side face having the groove, said members being in allochiral relationship, said clamp having a web having two back-to-back faces, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a first lateral end thereof defining first pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a second lateral end thereof opposite said first end defining second pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, said first pairs of clamp channels being in clamping engagement with one of said two pairs of members, said second pairs of clamp channels being in clamping engagement with the other of said two pairs of members, said web faces within said channels being in contact with end faces on said respective pairs of members, legs extending in opposite directions from one edge adjacent said first web end and legs extending in opposite directions from a corresponding edge adjacent said second web end, each having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward and in gripping contact with one of the respective gripping ramps, said legs having said lip extending along respective side faces having a groove, the others of said legs being in gripping contact with other respective side faces.

Claim 15

A clamp for joining structuural members: a clamp web having two back-to-back faces, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a first lateral end thereof defining first pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a second lateral end thereof opposite said first end defining second pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, legs extending in opposite directions from one edge adjacent said first web end and legs extending in opposite directions from a corresponding edge adjacent said second web end, each having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward its respective clamp channel, the others of said legs having a laterally outwardly bend at their outer ends.

Claim 16

A clamp for joining structuural members: a clamp web having two back-to-back faces, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a first lateral end thereof defining first pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, laterally spaced resilient legs extending in two opposite directions from laterally spaced edges of said web adjacent a second lateral end thereof opposite said first end defining second pairs of back-to-back clamp channels in cross section, legs extending in opposite directions from one edge adjacent said first web end and legs extending in opposite directions from a corresponding edge adjacent said second web end, each having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and an edge directed toward its respective clamp channel, the others of said legs having a laterally outwardly bend at their outer ends.

Claim 17

A clamp for joining structural members, said clamps comprising: a flat web having a plurality of pairs of opposing side legs extending from opposite edges thereof and each pair defining a channel in cross section, one leg of each pair extending from one of said opposite edges having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and having an edge directed toward said web, and a plurality of hook legs extending outwardly in the plane of said web from said other opposite edge of said web, said hook legs having a return bend at an acute angle thereto in the direction of the outer ends of said opposing legs and forming a hook for attachment to support member.

Claim 18

A clamp for joining structural members, said clamps comprising: a flat web having a plurality of pairs of opposing side legs extending from opposite edges thereof and each pair defining a channel in cross section, one leg of each pair extending from one of said opposite edges having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and having an edge directed toward said web, and a plurality of hook legs extending outwardly in the plane of said web from said other opposite edge of said web, said hook legs having a return bend at an acute angle thereto in the direction of the outer ends of said opposing legs and forming a hook for attachment to support member.

Claim 19

A clamp for joining structural members, said clamp comprising: a flat web having a plurality of first pairs of opposing side legs extending from opposite edges thereof, each first pair extending in one direction and defining a channel in cross section, and second pairs of opposing legs extending in an opposite direction to said one direction from said opposite edges of said web, each of said legs extending from one of said opposite edges having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and having an edge directed toward said web.

Claim 20

A clamp for joining structural members, said clamp comprising: a flat web having a plurality of first pairs of opposing side legs extending from opposite edges thereof, each first pair extending in one direction and defining a channel in cross section, and second pairs of opposing legs extending in an opposite direction to said one direction from said opposite edges of said web, each of said legs extending from one of said opposite edges having a returning lip adjacent its outer end, each lip having a curved outer face and having an edge directed toward said web.